Electric call-box system



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W. T. BUDDS. ELECTRIC CALL BOX SYSTEM. No. 596,356. Patented Dec. 28, 1897.-

SF in YHE NORHI aY scu 1 u W/ TN E SSE S /4 a L L WILLIAM T. BUDDS, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

I ELECTRIC CALL-BOX SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,356, dated December 28, 1897.

Application filed July 14, 1897. Serial No. 644,565. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. BUDDS, of Charleston, in the county of Charleston and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and Improved Electric Oall Box-System, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in a system of wiring between a main-Office alarm and a series of operating call-boxes; and the object is to provide a system whereby should the metallic circuit be broken or grounded the alarm may still be turned in from anyone of the boxes.

I will describe an electric call-box system embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claim.

Reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a partial elevation and partial section on the line 1 l of Fig. 2 of a call-box embraced in my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial elevation and partial section of a circuitcontroller employed. Fig. 4 is a plan View thereof and showing the main metallic-circuit connections therewith. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the system, and Fig. 6 shows a modification in the battery connections.

The call-box comprises a casing l, in which is arranged a circuit-controlling wheel 2, having a number of teeth and spaces between the same corresponding to the number of the particular call-box. This wheel 2 is of suitable conducting metal, and at one side thereof is a segmental block 3 of insulating material, upon which is mounted a metal plate 4:, designed to be normally engaged by brushes 5 and 6, insulated one from the other and having connection, respectively, with the mainline wires 7 and 8.

Rotary motion is imparted to the wheel 2 by means of a suitable motor. As herein shown, this motor consists of a train of gearing 9, mounted in a frame 10 and operated in one direction by means of a spring 11, engaging at one end with a pin extended from the frame 10 and at the other end with a shaft 12, extended outward through the casing 1 and having a crank 13 on its outer end. The

wheel 2 will be so arranged that While at rest the brushes 5 and 6 will bear upon the plate 4, thus completing the circuit through the brushes and the main-line wires. The body portion of the wheel 2 is is in connection with a ground-wire 1-1. The motion of the motor may be regulated by an escapement 16, coacting with a scape-wheel 17.

There may be any desired number of callboxes arranged in the circuit, and in Fig. 5 I have indicated six call-boxes, each having a ground-connection wire 14. At the main oflice the wire '7 has connection with one element of a battery 18, the other element of which has a connection 19 with a groundingcontact 20, and the wire 8 has at the central office a connection with one element of a battery 21, the other element of which has a connection 22 with the grounding-contact plate 20. This contact-plate 20 is designed to be put in connection with the ground-wire 23 by means of a plug. 24.

Arranged in the wire 7 at the central office is an alarm or sounding device 25, and arranged in the wire 8 at the central office is a similar alarm or sounding device 26. In Fig. 6 I have omitted the plug 24 and connected a ground -wire 27 directly with a wire in batteries connected in series.

In operation when the plug 24 is in position to close the ground-circuit should an alarm be turned in from either one of the call-boxes the current will flow through the several other call-boxes-that is, through the plates 4 and the brushes connecting therewith-and thence to the central office to sound the alarm. When the wheel 2 of the call-box is rotated and the brushes engage with the teeth of said wheel, it is obvious that a current will also be through the ground circuit. Therefore the call will be insured should the metallic circuit be broken at any point. For instance, should the metallic circuit be broken at w and the call-box at the right of it is operated the circuit will be through the grounds L1 and 23,

the battery 18, and the sounding device 25.

Should the call be made from other of the callboxes, the current will be through the groundcircuits, the battery 21, and the sounding device 26.

It is obvious by this system that a break in the metallic circuitmay be easily and quickly ICO tor, a segmental block of insulating material on one side of the Wheel, a metallic plate on 15 the block and insulated from the body of the wheel, brushes normally resting on the plate and having connection with line-Wires, and a ground-wire having connection with the body portion of the wheel, substantially as speci- 2o fied.

\VILLIAM T. BUDDS.

Witnesses:

F. K. MYERS, v T. M. MORDECLU. 

